Welcome to Yamaha Synth!
And thank you for your kind words.

We moved your post to the Motif XF FORUM, as it would only confuse MOXF readers.

I would really not like to change my computer for this particular reason. Is there any other option you can advice guys how to make my setup? At this video Mr. Blake using Mac comp which I doubt it has FIREWIRE.

The Mac Book Pro has a connection called "Thunderbolt" which seamlessly works with FW with a $30 adapter. Thunderbolt is a connector that can accommodate FW, Ethernet, etc. With a simple adapter.

HDMI is great for getting signals (Video/audio) to your TV monitor. But is not used, as far as I know, for multi-channel audio busing.

If you are going to use a computer and want to connect with the FW16E, you'll need to get a computer that can handle the digital transfer protocol. Sony computers used to have have something called "iLink" which worked with the appropriate 4-pin to 6-pin cable. But if truly you have no FW port, or no card slot to accommodate a FW adapter then there is no way to use the 16 audio buses of the FW16E. You need to get a computer that can accommodate your demands.

Is there any way around? Maybe some Audio interface would do the job, where MOTIF can be connected directly. But in this case my concern is slow USB 3.0 connection in between audio interface and Computer might result with some glitches. Currently I am using Presonus AUDIOBOX USB connected to USB 3.0. port on my comp.

No, nothing other than a computer capable of handling FW will work. The FW16E turns the XF, literally, into an audio interface. No other audio interface gives the XF 16 audio bus outs... No other audio interface connects to the XF, digitally. The 16 bus outputs are built internally inside the XF. No external audio interface can do this same thing.

By the way, Speed is not a problem for USB protocol... Never was. Even USB 2.0 is plenty fast enough, the issue was always bandwidth, not speed. But that will not help here either, the XF does not send audio out via the USB "To Host" port.

The XF sends (16 channel/6 channel) digital audio via FW through the FW16E, only. Without it you cannot access the 16 bus outputs.

Secondly, is there any step by step manual how to setup MOTIF XF with CUBASE over Firewire port. No matter this forum is best thing company can do, sometimes I found myself frustrated searching for explanations how to setup my gear.

Yes there is. However, a step-by-step guide will not solve your issue. If you are using your USB audio interface, then simply connect the analog outputs of the XF to that interface.

Here's the link to the Windows FW16E Setup Guide:
Motif XF: YSFW Setup with Cubase (Windows)

Hello Bad Mister,

thank you very much for your clear answer.
So you are suggesting for me to get another computer in this case Mac for this purpose. It make sence to me especially because I believe Mac is much more
stable computer and having it for this purpose only would even keep it "clean".
But do you probably know how I am going to handle my Cubase licence which I already register for PC version of software?
I believe it is worth of investment.
Thank you again.

Computers are computers... They are not built, specifically to be be music recording devices. So they each need special drivers and often connectors to accommodate music. This is true whether you go Windows or Mac, you'll need to pay attention to your connection options. There are (apparently) not enough musicians to support a real "music computer", but there are certainly enough so that with a little research you can find a computer that will suit your musical needs as well as your personal preference in computer operating system. But you cannot expect just any computer to do the job, connectivity is always going to be an issue (at least for the near future).

As to your software, CUBASE is compatible with either Windows or Mac, and you can easily move your license from one computer to another. Simply handle this through your MySteinberg account. Your "license" to use the software is independent of the physical computer, do you can simply move your authorization to the new computer, be it another Windows computer or a Mac.

And all your Projects can be opened on the other platform or new computer. It is a non-issue to move your music independent of the hardware computer.

Thank you for your replay Good Mister 🙂
Always so informative...

I have found iMac 27' with two thunderbolt inputs. Do I need two inputs on MAC or one suits connection with FW16E? I noticed though there are two outputs on Expansion board to. As per manuals both are used. One for MIDI and Audio Output second for returning audio back to Motif right?

Hello damir. First off, I am not BadMister or Nate.
I can only say what we do here.
When facing the FW Expansion's inputs installed on the XF,
I use the #1 port only.
We use nothing connected to port #2. I believe it to be a 'thru' port that we do not use yet.
The cable we use is FW CABLE 9 pin to 6 pin 800/400 6ft.
Then into an Apple Thunderbolt to Firewire adaptor ADAPTOR
Be sure to visit the yamaha download page to get the FW Driver for Mac. ---They're at THIS IS THE USA PAGE
*There is a more appropriate European Yamaha Page for downloads if needed.
*The cable and adaptor can be purchased other places like Apple.com or Belkin.com as long as the specifications are the same.
Good Luck !
Added After:
All of us here at Marcus Vincet Music are HUGE FANS of Mr. B (Bad Mister) and now NATE from Yamaha.
Needless to say, we're also HUGE fans as well as customers of Yamaha Corp.
I see the Bad one has logged in! " Oorah " 🙂

I have found iMac 27' with two thunderbolt inputs. Do I need two inputs on MAC or one suits connection with FW16E? I noticed though there are two outputs on Expansion board to. As per manuals both are used. One for MIDI and Audio Output second for returning audio back to Motif right?

Wrong! Only one Thunderbolt port is necessary, it is a bi-directional connection.
Only one FW port on the XF is used to connect to the computer. One connector is both an IN/OUT for the Motif XF (for both MIDI and Audio) the other acts as a "through" for another Yamaha Steinberg compatible FW device. As many as three devices can be linked via FW.

It takes a single FW connection between the XF and the computer to handle the 16 bus outputs from the synth, the 6 bus outputs from the computer, and multiple ports of MIDI both to and from the computer. Again all down a single FW cable.

If you connect YOUR Motif XF to the computer you could add 2 additional devices; perhaps a Steinberg MR816CSX I/O device, and/or a Motif-Rack XS w/FW16E, you would connect these additional devices to the other FW jack. These devices too, would each be in bi-directional communication with the computer. While the physical connection is described as a "daisy-chain", each device, called a "node" communicates directly with the computer THRU the FW ports. Each of these additional devices would deliver its 16 bus outputs to the computer... So that 48 discreet audio channels arrive at the computer via FW... 16 from the XF, 16 from the MR816CSX, and 16 from the Rack-XS.

For example, the Motif XF --> Motif-Rack XS --> Steinberg MR816CSX --> Computer (where --> is a FW cable). That is a complete chain. And it handle Midi and Audio for all devices.

DAISY-chaining makes connections neat and easy. It foregoes every device having to be connected directly/physically to the computer (even though that is the net result). Since the signal for each simply "passes thru" the devices, they (the connector jacks) are not called "In/Out", but THRU Ports.

It is important to have all devices connected to the computer have their signal arrive through just a single connection. You would need one Thunderbolt-to-FireWire adapter... Connect the FW16E to it via a single 6-pin to 9-pin FW cable.

You can use the other Thunderbolt connector on the Mac for whatever (Ethernet, for example).

Technically speaking, the FW16E turns your XF into a 16-input/6-output audio interface for your computer. You will have sixteen audio buses coming into your DAW: Main L/Main R, plus 14 assignable FW buses (that can be configured as mono or as odd/even stereo pairs, as you may require.

To understand how this works, in your Motif XF:
Go to SONG or PATTERN mode
Press [MIXING]
Press [EDIT]
Press [1] to view Part 1 parameters
Press [F1] VOICE
Press [SF2] OUTPUT
Highlight the OUTPUT SELECT parameter whic defaults to L&R
Press [SF6] LIST to view a list of the possible output assignments. Each PART including the 16 internal synth Parts, and the analog (AD) input Part, and the digital FW input Part can be routed to any of these available Output buses.

Definition: A bus is a vehicle for carrying one or more passengers from point A to point B along a specified route. In this case any Part can be assigned to ride a bus from the synth to the computer DAW on one of these buses. (The only ones that do not go to the computer are the "asL", "asR", and "asL&asR" options - as these represent analog outputs on the back panel)

Hello Bad Mister,

sorry for my response delay but honestly, I didn't saw your extensive report. Wow! what else I can say?? You are such a expert. Amazed! 😮
I already purchase my FW16 E and waiting for proper cable to connect all together with my Mac.
I will try to go deep into it when all setup will be on place.
Thank you so much.